Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: IFR LSA's

The one point no one's brought out is that the intention of the FAA in creating the Light Sport Category had nothing to do with making flying fun, or less epensive, or to bring more people into flying. They could not have cared less about any of that. The alphabets (EAA and AOPA, etc.) sold the FAA on the idea by harping on the safety issue of bringing (legal and/or illegal) pilots under their (the faa) control. PERIOD. The FAA had no other intention what-so-ever. All the rest is just gravy.
(I know I've mentioned that before, but people seem to forget it)

I've been following this thread reading about how much fun this is supposed to be and how it's not time yet and how LSA is supposed to be more affordable, but the bottom line is that "Uncle Fred" doesn't care. He crafted his new rule VERY carefully to establish a standard of training for those who are willing to comply with (VERY CAREFULLY scripted) limits; INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP DOWN to those limits. The fact that so many Private or Commercial Pilots are now (and like it or not it will continue)flying under the Light Sport Rule is no accident, and it certainly is no loop-hole. It was designed to happen that way! It keeps these guys from flying (unsafely)in conditions where they no longer belong. Plus, the FAA re-established Part 103, and drew a hard line "in the sand" while warning us not to cross it (again). (That was a BIG issue with them.) This and this alone was how the FAA was sold on the idea (I used those words deliberately)

Certification standards (FAR's) set the requirements for flying in IMC and the FAA doesn't care what you're flying in as long as you are (in their opinion) properly equipped, and properly rated. If your LSA qualifies and you do , too, good for you. 'Same for your Bonanza, if you are fortunate enough to have one. If your balloon is so equipped and you have the rating, go for it!! (I admit.. that would be an interesting flight plan, but I'm sure it's been done-- Fawcett's around the workd balloon flight; wasn't that up in the flight levels????). Jim is absolutley correct. Not everybody flies only for fun and the Rule is worded to allow flying for fun but also, and maybe more important, it does NOT specifically exclude flying for transportation (read IFR). Is that unsafe? Nope. Not so long as you meet the requirements as outlined in the FARs, and are proficient and current in both equipment and skills.

One last point (finally) and then I'll shut up (for now). Many pilots without instrument ratings don't realize how much easier it is to fly under Instrument Rules as opposed to Visual Rules (although not necessarily under Instrument CONDITIONS). You file, you copy your clearance, and you simply do as you're told. ATC provides you with navigation help, weather info, traffic advisories..... they do all the work and you just monitor systems and make sure you are flying safetly and accurately..... they even tell you when it's time to descend, and you don't give even a fleeting thought to airspace restrictions. It's a WHOLE LOT EASIER than going VFR unless you are just "didley boppin' around the neighborhood.

Sorry to be so wordy (I can't help it) but thanks to all for a VERY interesting thread. I've enjoyed reading it and look forward (I hope) to continued discussion.
Herb K

--- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Bair" <JimBair@...> wrote:
>
> I totally get your philosophy. But I totally get other people's philosophies, too. Go to Oshkosh. You see airplanes designed to do damn near everything imaginable. People have different needs and design planes to fit those needs. Just because your needs don't need instruments doesn't mean everyone's doesn't. I fly for fun, too, but to be honest, having the ability to file IFR to escape some morning fog and go somewhere nice has been handy a couple of times. But mostly, if I fly through a cloud, I'm getting paid to do it, so I understand what you're saying.
>
> Jim
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: skyponyorg
> To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 7:48 PM
> Subject: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: IFR LSA's
>
>
> I've been a Sport Pilot for 2 years and I guess I must be old-fashioned or just old! Why would anybody want to fly in the fog (IFR)? I fly to explore and see things. It wouldn't make sense to me to fly when I couldn't see anything. If the weather is bad, I wait until it gets good. I fly for sport!
>

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